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Introduction | |
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Disclaimer—Read This First! | |
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Acknowledgments | |
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That's a Crime? | |
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Is it against the law to look at someone the wrong way? | |
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Can you be convicted of drunk driving if you're not driving the car? | |
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Can a professional fighter be charged with battery for winning a fight? | |
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Is marijuana legal? | |
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Can you be convicted of bail jumping if you never leave the state? | |
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Can you be convicted of a crime for yelling in your own home? | |
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Can you be convicted of “carrying a concealed weapon” if your gun is not concealed? | |
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Sex Crimes | |
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Can you be convicted of “statutory rape” if the minor lied about his or her age? | |
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Is oral sex illegal? | |
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Is it a crime to cheat on your spouse? | |
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Is prostitution legal in Las Vegas? | |
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Problems With the Police | |
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Do the police have to read you your rights when they arrest you? | |
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Can the police search your car if you have an air freshener hanging on the mirror? | |
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Can the police tell when you are lying? | |
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Can the police lie to you when they interrogate you? | |
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Can the police search your home without a warrant? | |
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Can you make a citizen's arrest? | |
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Criminial Process and Procedure | |
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Since I'm innocent until proven guilty, will I still have to sit in jail before trial? | |
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Can a child be convicted of a crime? | |
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If you accuse someone of a crime, can you later “drop the charges”? | |
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If you punch someone in a fight, are your hands considered dangerous weapons? | |
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Your Day in Criminal Court | |
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Can hearsay be used against you in court? | |
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Does a speedy trial mean you'll get your trial within six months? | |
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Can you be convicted of a crime for a mistake or an accident? | |
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Can you be convicted of multiple crimes for a single act? | |
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Can you be convicted of a crime without any evidence? | |
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If a jury convicts you of a crime, can you appeal the verdict? | |
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Can you beat your case by claiming you're insane? | |
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If you're charged with a crime, can you represent yourself in court? | |
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First Kill All the Lawyers | |
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Are public defenders “real lawyers”? | |
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If you can't afford a lawyer, will the court appoint one for you? | |
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Contract Law: A Deal is a Deal | |
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Do contracts have to be in writing to be enforceable? | |
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Will a contract be enforceable because it is in writing? | |
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Can promises be enforced, even if they're not enforceable as contracts? | |
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Can a minor (under eighteen years old) enter into a contract? | |
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Are disclaimers, or no-liability clauses, enforceable? | |
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Are there legal ways to get out of an otherwise enforceable contract? | |
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Family Law: Love and Marriage | |
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If you break up with your fianc�, can you keep the ring? | |
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In a divorce, does the mother have an advantage over the father for child custody? | |
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In a divorce, can a “pre-nup” protect your assets from your ex-spouse? | |
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Can the government order you to pay support for someone else's child? | |
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Taxes: Cuz I'm the Taxman | |
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If you find lost or abandoned property, do you have to pay taxes on it? | |
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If you barter for goods or services, do you have to pay taxes? | |
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Real Property Law: I Know What's Mine | |
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Is it possible to lose your property through “adverse possession”? | |
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Is it possible to use your neighbor's property without trespassing? | |
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Torts: Sue Happy | |
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Can you sue a restaurant if your coffee is too hot? | |
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Can a burglar sue me if he gets injured on my property? | |
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Can I be sued for helping someone during an emergency? | |
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People are spreading rumors about me—can I sue them for slander? | |
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Legal Education: So You Want to Be a Lawyer? | |
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Do you have to go to law school to be a lawyer? | |
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Do you have to pass the bar exam to be a lawyer? | |
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Do all lawyers go to trial? | |
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Is becoming a lawyer the road to riches? | |
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Afterword | |
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Endnotes | |
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Index | |
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About the Authors | |